Blepharitis and Demodex spp. infection

According to the latest reports Demodex mites appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic blepharitis. Demodex mites are cosmopolitan and are present in many species of mammals. In this paper we describe two species that are found in humans: Demodex folliculorum and D. brevis. Infection occurs during direct contact with an affected person and also through contact with dust containing eggs of the parasite, through contact with bed linen, as well as cosmetics used together with an affected person. Treatment of chronic blepharitis caused by D. folliculorum and D. brevis is difficult and time consuming. Some improvement can be achieved after topical application of yellow mercury ointment, sulphuric ointment, camphor oil, crotamiton, cholinesterase inhibitors, sulfacetamide, steroids, antibiotics and antifungal drugs. Good results have been achieved with oral ivermectin and permethrin cream. However, the best results were observed after treatment with metronidazole.

Expression and Activity of COX-1 and COX-2 in Acanthamoeba sp.-Infected Lungs According to the Host Immunological Status

Little is known about the pathomechanism of pulmonary infections caused by Acanthamoeba sp. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether Acanthamoeba sp. may affect the expression and activity of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), resulting in the altered levels of their main products, prostaglandins (PGE2) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2), in lungs of immunocompetent or immunosuppressed hosts. Acanthamoeba sp. induced a strong expression of COX-1 and COX-2 proteins in the lungs of immunocompetent mice, which, however, did not result in significant differences in the expression of PGE2 and TXB2. Our immunohistochemical analysis showed that immunosuppression induced by glucocorticoids in Acanthamoeba sp.-infected mice caused a decrease in COX-1 and COX-2 (not at the beginning of infection) in lung tissue. These results suggest that similar to COX-2, COX-1 is an important mediator of the pathophysiology in experimental pulmonary acanthamoebiasis. We suggest that the signaling pathways important for Acanthamoeba sp. induction of lung infection might interact with each other and depend on the host immune status

Protozoan Intestinal Parasitic Infection in Patients with Hematological Malignancies

The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of gastrointestinal protozoan infection in patients with hematological malignancies (HMs) undergoing intensive hemato-oncological treatment and to determine the influence of certain biological factors on the incidence of intestinal parasite infection. Stool samples were collected from hematological malignancy patients (n = 50) hospitalized at the Department of Hematology and Transplantology of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. The control group consisted of 50 healthy participants. We used a direct smear examination and a commercial immunoenzymatic test. Intestinal protozoans were detected in 16% of patients with hematological malignancies and in 6% of individuals in the control group. In stool samples from patients with HM, cysts of Giardia intestinalis (2%), oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. (10%), vacuolar forms of potentially pathogenic Blastocystis spp. (2%), and cysts of nonpathogenic Entamoeba coli (2%) were found. Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia intestinalis coproantigens were detected in 5 (10%) and 1 (2%) patients with HM, respectively. In three participants from the control group, vacuolar forms of Blastocystis spp. were found. In the patients with HM, a significantly higher prevalence of intestinal parasite infection was found in individuals working in the garden without protective gloves and those in contact with animals. In patients with hematological malignancies, intestinal parasites should be excluded, even during intensive chemotherapy treatment

Neurotrophic Factors in Experimental Cerebral Acanthamoebiasis

To date, no studies have addressed the role of neurotrophins (NTs) in Acanthamoeba spp. infections in the brain. Thus, to clarify the role of NTs in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus during experimental acanthamoebiasis in relation to the host immune status, the purpose of this study was to determine whether Acanthamoeba spp. may affect the concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) in brain structures. Our results suggest that at the beginning of infection in immunocompetent hosts, BDNF and NT-3 may reflect an endogenous attempt at neuroprotection against Acanthamoeba spp. infection. We also observed a pro-inflammatory effect of NGF during acanthamoebiasis in immunosuppressed hosts. This may provide important information for understanding the development of cerebral acanthamoebiasis related to the immunological status of the host. However, the pathogenesis of brain acanthamoebiasis is still poorly understood and documented and, therefore, requires further research

Cadmium, lead and mercury in human kidneys

The development of civilization and economic activities affect the increase in the number and variety of xenobiotics, including some heavy metals in the environment. Hence, human is constantly exposed to many harmful substances in air, water, soil and food. It is well known that cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) are the most toxic socalled heavy metals (density ¤4.5 g/cm3) [1]. The critical organs accumulating these metals are kidneys, which are involved in the detoxification process. The concentration of metals in the kidneys is affected by environmental factors, such as smoking, diet, or amalgam dental fillings (mercury), and some biological factors – as age and gender. Recently, research was conducted on the impact of the Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) on the concentration of these metals in kidneys. Patients with kidney cancer accumulate less cadmium than healthy ones. Therefore it is very important to monitor the concentrations of highly toxic metals in the excretory organ, particularly in patients with nephrological disorders.Rozwój cywilizacji i działalności gospodarczej wpływają na wzrost ilości i różnorodności ksenobiotyków, w tym pewnych metali ciężkich, w środowisku. Dlatego człowiek stale narażony jest na kontakt z wieloma szkodliwymi substancjami znajdującymi się w powietrzu, wodzie, glebie i pożywieniu. Z tak zwanych metali ciężkich (o gęstości ¤4,5 g/cm3) za najbardziej toksyczne uznaje się kadm (Cd), ołów (Pb) i rtęć (Hg), które nazywane są „trójką metali śmierci” [1]. Narządem krytycznym kumulującym te metale są nerki, które w dużym stopniu biorą udział w procesie detoksykacji. Na stężenie metali w nerkach mają wpływ czynniki środowiskowe, takie jak palenie tytoniu, dieta czy posiadanie amalgamatowych wypełnień stomatologicznych (rtęć), a także czynniki biologiczne – wiek i płeć. Od niedawna prowadzone są także badania o wpływie raka jasnokomórkowego na stężenie tych metali w nerce. Okazuje się, że nerki osób z nowotworem tego narządu w mniejszym stopniu kumulują kadm, niż nerki osób zdrowych. Istotne jest zatem poznanie i dalsze monitorowanie stężeń wybitnie toksycznych metali w tym narządzie wydalniczym, szczególnie u osób z rozpoznanymi schorzeniami nefrologicznymi, łącznie z tymi, które doprowadziły do usunięcia nerki

Immunopathogenicity of Acanthamoeba spp. in the Brain and Lungs

Free-living amoebas, including Acanthamoeba spp., are widely distributed in soil, water, and air. They are capable of causing granulomatous amebic encephalitis, Acanthamoeba pneumonia, Acanthamoeba keratitis, and disseminated acanthamoebiasis. Despite low occurrence worldwide, the mortality rate of Acanthamoeba spp. infections is very high, especially in immunosuppressed hosts. Acanthamoeba infections are a medical problem, owing to limited improvement in diagnostics and treatment, which is associated with incomplete knowledge of pathophysiology, pathogenesis, and the host immune response against Acanthamoeba spp. infection. The aim of this review is to present the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of Acanthamoeba spp.–host interactions, including the expression of Toll-like receptors, mechanisms of an immune response, the activity of metalloproteinases, the secretion of antioxidant enzymes, and the expression and activity of cyclooxygenases. We show the relationship between Acanthamoeba spp. and the host at the cellular level and host defense reactions that lead to changes in the selected host’s organs

Cadmium, lead and mercury in human kidneys

The development of civilization and economic activities affect the increase in the number and variety of xenobiotics, including some heavy metals in the environment. Hence, human is constantly exposed to many harmful substances in air, water, soil and food. It is well known that cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) are the most toxic socalled heavy metals (density ¤4.5 g/cm3) [1]. The critical organs accumulating these metals are kidneys, which are involved in the detoxification process. The concentration of metals in the kidneys is affected by environmental factors, such as smoking, diet, or amalgam dental fillings (mercury), and some biological factors – as age and gender. Recently, research was conducted on the impact of the Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) on the concentration of these metals in kidneys. Patients with kidney cancer accumulate less cadmium than healthy ones. Therefore it is very important to monitor the concentrations of highly toxic metals in the excretory organ, particularly in patients with nephrological disorder

The Effects of Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Fluoride, and Lead on Bone Tissue

Bones are metabolically active organs. Their reconstruction is crucial for the proper functioning of the skeletal system during bone growth and remodeling, fracture healing, and maintaining calcium–phosphorus homeostasis. The bone metabolism and tissue properties are influenced by trace elements that may act either indirectly through the regulation of macromineral metabolism, or directly by affecting osteoblast and osteoclast proliferation or activity, or through becoming part of the bone mineral matrix. This study analyzes the skeletal impact of macroelements (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus), microelements (fluorine), and heavy metals (lead), and discusses the concentration of each of these elements in the various bone tissues

Impact of Varied Factors on Iron, Nickel, Molybdenum and Vanadium Concentrations in the Knee Joint

The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of iron, nickel, molybdenum, and vanadium in the knee joint. We also examined the relationships between the concentrations of these metals in the knee joint and the influence of varied factors on the concentration of Fe, Ni, Mo, and V. The study of these trace elements is important, because these elements are used alone and in combination in diet supplements, and they are components of biomaterials implanted in medicine. The study materials, consisting of the spongy bone, cartilage, meniscus, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and infrapatellar fat pad, were obtained from 34 women and 12 men from northwestern Poland. The concentrations of Ni, Fe, Mo, and V were determined using spectrophotometric atomic absorption in inductively coupled argon plasma (ICP-AES). We found significantly higher Mo concentrations in the ACL of women than men. There was a significant difference in the Mo concentration in the spongy bone between patients from cities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants and patients from cities with more than 100,000 residents. Iron concentrations in the spongy bone were higher in non-smoking patients and those who did not consume alcohol. Vanadium concentrations were higher in the infrapatellar fat pads in abstainers. In patients who had not undergone arthroscopy surgery, V concentration was lower in cartilage. The concentrations of V in the cartilage and infrapatellar fat pad were higher in osteoporotic patients than in non-osteoporotic patients. There were significant differences in Fe concentrations in the meniscus, with the lowest in osteoporotic patients. We noted lower Mo concentrations in the spongy bone of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, we noted some new interactions among metals in the studied structures of the knee joint. The results reported in this study show the influence of gender, place of residence, smoking, consumption of alcohol, arthroscopy surgery, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis on the Fe, Ni, Mo, and V concentrations in the studied structures of the knee joint